In case you haven't noticed it already, the Iowa Independent provides some of the best coverage of presidential politics in the state of Iowa, bar none. Their writers frequently attend campaign events and they provide great on the ground reporting from the state where Democrats will first cast their lots in process of selecting our next President (date to be determined). So basically, if you're not already a regular reader of Iowa Independent, I highly recommend it as a source for news out of the Hawkeye State.
By way of example, I want to bring your attention to this post by the Iowa Independent's John Deeth, who attended an event with Senator Dodd at the Iowa City book store, Prairie Lights. Deeth writes:
Matters turned back to the 21st century and Dodd's campaign during question and answers, as Dodd cited George Bush's remark that the Constitution " is only a piece of paper." He said the Geneva Convention is critical because it protects our own troops in harm's way, and our current policies put them in danger. "The worst info you get is the info you get from torture. There's no better witness to that than John McCain," he said. The world looks at the Nuremberg trials as a high point of American moral leadership, in contrast that to Abu Gharib and Guantanamo.
Dodd argues, in a sense that civil liberties and the rule of law are literally in his blood. "All of you have been asking me a question that you don't articulate. Who are you? What are your beliefs? What's my DNA in a sense? I am a product of my upbringing. My father talked about Nuremberg to his six children endlessly. These views on human rights and the Constitution come from my upbringing, not from a poll."
...
I ask Dodd how his father would want to be remembered -- as a Senator, for Nuremberg, or as the father of a president? Dodd laughs at the last and cites his father's remarks from one of the letters. "Nothing I do will ever be really as important as this," wrote the then 38-year-old Thomas Dodd in 1946. "Someday the boys will be proud of it." Six decades later, his son clearly was.
I'd also recommend you to check out this post by Iowa Independent's Lynda Waddington on Rep. Ray Zirkelbach, an Iraq war veteran and Purple Heart recipient, endorsing Chris Dodd for President.
Also, Waddington has posted a series of video clips on her own blog, Essential Estrogen, from the Black Hawk County Democratic Presidential Forum. The videos are on global warming, Iraq, health care, economic security, minority disparities, and Medicare.
Comments
Yes, I know I am never satisfied. But, there's more to the Constitution and the Geneva Conventions than treating others as we'd like to be treated. What I want to see is that our agents of government follow the precepts of the Constitution and the treaties our nation has entered into with others, regardless of other people's behavior.
I'm actually not quite sure why that isn't the Republican position; why the moral principles our government adheres to aren't independent of the situation in which we find ourselves.
Instead, especially of late, our government's behavior seems to depend on the whim of a leader who's both ill-informed and venal--a situation which the limits on power as outlined in the Constitution were specifically designed to preclude.
Monica, I'm really not sure where you're getting the impression that Senator Dodd is advocating such a limited view while trying to restore the Constitution and honor the rule of law. Those two guiding principles - and two missions that have shaped his campaign for the presidency - are in no way limited by how we want others to treat us, but are instead driven by the belief that these two things are inherently and unquestionably right. It is precisely because both the Constitution and the conception of the rule of law are so transcendently important that Senator Dodd is fighting for them.
I like Mr. Dodd but as a life long democrat I changed parties to vote for another Vet ,
Dr. Ron Paul. I don't know much about Iowa , however one of my children is from Iowa. Her name is Iris Loop de Loop ( she's one of my two horses). She's not registered to vote.
Wish we were there !
Good luck , Nancy